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Tasmanian Industrial Commission

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T3462, T3463, T3511, T3427 and T3476

 

TASMANIAN INDUSTRIAL COMMISSION

Industrial Relations Act 1984
s.23 application for award or award variation

The Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and Joiners of Australia
Tasmanian Branch

(T.Nos. 3462 and 3463 of 1991)

Building Workers' Industrial Union of Australia
Tasmanian Branch

(T.3511 of 1991)

The Australian Building Construction Employees' and
Builders Labourers' Federation
Tasmanian Branch

(T. 3427 of 1991)

Plumbers and Gasfitters Employees' Union of Australia
Tasmanian Branch

(T. 3476 of 1991)

BUILDING TRADES AWARD
BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY AWARD
PLUMBERS AWARD

 

COMMISSIONER R J WATLING

4 November 1991

Expense related allowances - granted

REASONS FOR DECISION

These applications made by the respective unions sought to increase the following expense related allowances in the Building Trades Award, Building and Construction Industry Award and the Plumbers Award.

Those allowances are:

- Fares and Travelling
- Tool Allowance
- Compensation for Clothes and Tools
- Meal Allowance
- Living Away from Home - Distant Work
- Camping Allowance

The figures used to support the applications to determine the quantum of the increase were:

Fares and Travelling - Australian Bureau of Statistics Consumer Price Index weighted average of Eight Capitals; Transportation; from and including the September quarter 1990 up to and including the June quarter 1991 (3.3%).

Tool Allowance/Compensation for Clothes and Tools - Australian Bureau of Statistics Consumer Price Index weighted average of Eight Capitals; from and including the September quarter 1990 up to an including the June quarter 1991 (3.4%).

Meal Allowance - Australian Bureau of Statistics Consumer Price Index weighted average of Eight Capitals; Food - Meals out and take away foods; from and including the September quarter 1990 up to and including the June quarter 1991 (5.2%).

Living Away from Home - Distant Work -

(a) Forward Journey - same as for Meal Allowance (5.2%).

(b) Return Journey - same as for Fares and Travelling (3.3%).

(c) Weekend Work - same as for Fares and Travelling (3.3%).

(d) Camping Allowance - AWU Construction and Maintenance (Consolidated) Award 1987 - being an average of percentage increases in the Australian Bureau of Statistics Consumer Price Index - Food, Housing and Transportation Groups from and including the September quarter 1990 up to and including the June quarter 1991 (1.77%).

These allowances were last varied as a result of a decision1 handed down on 29 October 1990. However, the results of that decision were not reflected in Division B of the Building Trades Award. That being the case the orders arising out of this decision will also pick up the increases arising out of the earlier mentioned decision2.

When the plumbing trade allowance was last varied in the Plumbers Award, Division B, Clause 8 - Wage Rates, subclause 2 (a) (v) an error occurred in that calculations and that will also be rectified as a result of this decision.

All parties to the award agreed that the applications should be endorsed by the Commission and they tendered exhibits showing the effect of any successful application.

The applications conform with the Wage Fixing Principles and in particular the Allowances Principle.

These allowances have, in the past, been varied in accordance with the previously mentioned formulae. That being the case, the awards will now be varied in the manner sought, with an operative date from the first full pay period to commence on or after 22 October 1991, being the agreed operative date submitted by the parties.

 

R J Watling
COMMISSIONER

Appearances:
Mr M Dowd for the Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and Joiners of Australia, Tasmanian Branch.
Mr M Clifford for the Building Workers' Industrial Union of Australia, (Tasmanian Branch) and the Federated Engine Drivers' and Firemen's Association of Australasia, Tasmanian Branch.
Mr J Gill for the Australian Building Construction Employees' and Builders Labourers' Federation, Tasmanian Branch.
Mr R Randall for the Plumbers and Gasfitters Employees' Union of Australia, Tasmanian Branch.
Mr A Lenthall for the Master Builders Association of Tasmania.
Mr T Edwards for the Tasmanian Confederation of Industries.

Date and place of hearing:
1991
October 22
Hobart

1 T. Nos. 2663, 2711, 2704, 2705, 2710, 2718 and 2717 of 1990
2 ibid